Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Renton, WA
VS
Salinas, CA
🏆 Renton leads 12 of 22 categories
Renton
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Salinas
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,250
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
162,783 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Renton, WA
Pros
35% less violent crime than Salinas
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.2%)
Households earn $8,042 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 18.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.8 min average each way
Salinas, CA
Pros
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 77°F
Cons
Violent crime (524.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.2%)
Median income trails Renton by $8,042/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Renton
Median Income
$8,042
$92,292 vs $84,250/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
35% lower
339.2 vs 524.5 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.0% unemployment
Renton
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 77.2°F vs 70.7°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 113.0 on the COL index
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Renton, WA | Salinas, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $576,800⚠ High | $573,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,864⚠ High | $1,795⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,292 ✓ Higher | $84,250 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 25.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 3.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 117⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (57) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.9% ✓ Higher | 15.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.9% ✓ Higher | 62.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Renton School District | Alisal Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 62.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F ✓ Warmer | 70.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.0" | 12.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,355 | 162,783 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 31.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% ✓ Higher | 47.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 29.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Renton's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Salinas's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Renton leads 12 of 22 categories. Renton wins 12 and Salinas wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Renton to Salinas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,800 vs $573,600 median home), income ($92,292 vs $84,250), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Renton, WA and Salinas, CA are about 746 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.